Leading up to the fight, both boxers spent weeks preparing
themselves. Beads of sweat offered visual confirmation that their efforts
were paying off.

As they wiped perspiration from their eyes, their vision
became clearer. For Truax, 26, a win would be confirmation that his
namesake "Golden" was merited. For Williams, 32, a win would
mean redemption.

Shortly before 11:00 P.M., the fighters made their way
to the ring. Their backgrounds may have been a study in contrasts, but,
as they met eye-to-eye, they shared the same goal: each hoped a win
would define his career.

"It's still frustrating. I can't get angry. It is
what it is. There's nothing I can do to change it," said Truax
from his home this week. "A draw doesn't advance me or hurt me;
all I can do is learn from it."

Throughout the build-up, Truax showed confidence as he
told everyone from the Star Tribune to supporters on Facebook that
he was ready. Surely, a victory would offer concrete evidence that his
confidence was warranted.

Defeating Williams would earn him a mental portrait he
could hang with pride next to his four-year-degree.

By all accounts, Truax is personable. He's a humble boxer
who engages in a sport that demands a certain level of narcissism from
its participants if they are to survive.

But he prides himself on being honest, and this fight
is no different.

"I still feel the same way. I thought I won the fight.
I felt I pushed Phil back the whole time and he didn't really land anything
but his jab."

Truax, who plans to return to the ring in June, adds,
"He landed one solid punch in round ten that knocked me off balance.
I recovered right away and blocked the rest of his flurries. That shouldn't
be enough to win a fight. Without me, he would have sat back and waited
the whole time."

For Williams, the draw still doesn't sit well. "He's
supposed to be a champion. I've watched boxing all my life and the champion
says, 'Ok, the fight was a draw let's jump in the ring again.'"

Williams is somewhat conscientious. He knew what naysayers
said about him going into the fight. He understood that Truax was seen,
by some, as MN's possible future middleweight.

"If we are going to fight for the supper middleweight
belt, let's fight for the super middleweight belt. We were fighting
at 163 and 162 pounds that's a paper champion. True boxing fans
don't really like that."

He added, "Why would you run from competition and
say, 'I am the real champion'?"

Williams decided long ago what distinguishes a "fighter"
from a "club fighter." Although he entered the clash coming
off back-to-back defeats, he never saw himself as an opponent.

The one regret Williams concedes is that he was not more
aggressive. But, still, he says what he did was enough to earn a win.

"I felt like I won the fight clearly. I controlled
him with the jab. I busted his nose open. I am fighting on his home
turf he was so scared he didn't want to engage."

In retrospect, a draw offers both fighters proof that
they came in with the necessary attitude to win. A draw shows that both
men worked and sacrificed for their sport, and for that, they should
be applauded, regardless of who won this round.

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